Birmingham City Council Highlights 9.5.23
ITEMS 3–4
Major League Baseball will be coming to Birmingham next year, and Rickwood Field will be receiving a series of upgrades in anticipation of this monumental event.
Last month, the branding and logo were unveiled for the “2024 MLB at Rickwood Field, A Tribute to the Negro Leagues.” The game between the San Francisco Giants and the St. Louis Cardinals will be played at America’s oldest surviving ballpark on June 20th, 2024.
Today, the Council approved a funding agreement between the City, PNC Bank and the Alabama PACE Board for capital improvements to be made at Rickwood Field in anticipation of the upcoming MLB game and beyond.
The Council also recently approved an agreement to provide the Friends of Rickwood Field, the nonprofit that oversees maintenance and operation of the facility, with $150,000 in annual funding for the next three years.
Councilor Carol Clarke, who represents the district, said she is excited for what the future holds for this piece of history. “We owe a great deal of credit and gratitude to the Friends of Rickwood Field who have acted as stewards for this incredible, historic facility,” Councilor Clarke said. “These improvements will help with the continued success and vibrancy of this ballpark, especially as we look to market ourselves for future sporting events that could be held there.
“I also want to thank the administration for finding a way for Rickwood to get the upfront money to get this project underway. The organization has been working to raise money but inflation has affected the cost of the project, nearly doubling the cost. Today’s action will ensure that the construction timeline can continue without interruption while fundraising continues.”
Councilor Clarke, who will be hosting a Blues in the Ballpark concert at the historic field prior to construction beginning, also pointed out the need to have more events at Rickwood Field and how the funding will help the long-term vision for how the venue can better serve residents of Rising West Princeton.
Here is the item as it appeared on Tuesday’s agenda:
ITEM 3
An Ordinance authorizing the acquisition, construction and payment of capital improvements to Rickwood Field on behalf of The Public Athletic, Cultural And Entertainment Facilities Board of the City of Birmingham, Alabama (PACE Board), and authorizing the Mayor to execute (1) a Funding Agreement by and among the City, the PACE Board, and PNC Bank, National Association, under which the City will pay the
principal of and interest on that certain Revenue Bond, Series 2023, to be issued by the PACE Board to PNC Bank in an expected principal amount not to exceed $4,500,000.00 to pay the costs of such capital improvements to Rickwood Field and (2) a Ground Lease between the City and the PACE Board in connection with the “MLB at Rickwood Field” project. [First Reading] (Submitted by the City Attorney) (Recommended by the Mayor and the Budget and Finance Committee)**
ITEM 9
As part of her office’s federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, Council President Pro Tem Crystal Smitherman has contributed $45,000 to the Girls Inc. of Central Alabama.
The funding will assist with after-school and summer programs, to address COVID learning loss and trauma by providing academic classes in math and reading, along with the enrichment activities that Girls Inc. has traditionally provided in order to boost self-esteem, engage girls in STEM, and model coping strategies for anger and stress. The organization serves over 1,000 young women from low-and-moderate income households in the City.
According to the organization’s website, “Girls Inc. of Central Alabama has provided gender-specific programs for school-age girls of diverse racial and economic backgrounds in the Birmingham area since 1938. We are an affiliate of National Girls Inc. and have been a United Way partner agency since 1954. The Girls Inc. Experience consists of people, an environment and programming that, together, empower girls to succeed. Trained staff and volunteers build lasting, mentoring relationships in pro-girl, girls-only spaces. Whether a girl participates in our in-school, after-school or summer programs, she will receive academic support, learn about health and wellness and develop her life skills. Our goal is to help girls achieve at their highest level.”
“This is a full circle moment for me,” Councilor Crystal Smitherman said. “I’ve been a part of Girls Inc.; I used to go there and I learned so many skills that have served me later in life, apart for the STEM programing and academic services they provide. We know that COVID set an entire generation of kids behind a little bit because of the challenges of remote learning. This is such an important organization and I’m happy to support them in any way I can.”
